The journey to become an author has been rocky. It began as an idea, a way to sharpen my brain. If it didn’t work out, then I could call it a hobby. But inside, I knew my wish was much more than a whim.

As I grew up, watching my brother’s success from the sidelines, I dreamt of becoming a high-powered corporate executive. This goal accompanied me through high school, college, and graduate school.

After my brother’s death and without him at my side, my dream soon flickered and died. As a woman in business in the eighties, I faced closed doors. Asked again and again when I might start my family, I became frustrated. Then my Sabbath observance caused me to leave the job I liked best, as a Budget Analyst at the Office of Management and Budget of NYC.

I worked part-time jobs in my neighborhood as I raised my two daughters. Married with their own families, I now have the time to pursue a new dream. Reading has brought comfort over the years, as an escape from problems. I love mysteries and thrillers, so I wrote a mystery.

My first book, THE DEAD GAME, began as a murder mystery. In the town of Oasis, my main characters uncover dead bodies and dark secrets. The story has clues, victims, and suspects as the traditional murder mystery. But many players are dead walkers.

For THE DEAD GAME, I used a self-publisher. Outskirts Press charged high fees and held onto my book’s template. They held it hostage for $500. If I want to change the book, I have to pay them to do it. I believe I’ve found a way around their ploy, but it will take time to convert the messy text to the correct format. This is my next project.

My second book, PREY FOR THE DEAD, I published without help. A graphic artist designed the cover. The Vellum formatting program converted the text. After research online, I bought an ISBN number and submitted the book and its cover for copyright.

The road to becoming an author was long, but it was worth it. My writing has improved. My favorite editing program,ProWritingAid, is my constant companion. With my tools and my imagination, I have what I need. I’m ready to write the third book in THE DEAD GAME Trilogy.

SUSANNE LEIST BIO

I have always loved to read. Agatha Christie, Alistair Maclean, Robert Ludlum, and many other authors filled my young imagination with intrigue and mystery. When I wasn’t reading late into the night, the TV shows—Murder She Wrote and Columbo—entertained me with tales of murder and suspense.

Over the years, my taste in TV expanded to include such shows as Supernatural and The Originals. I searched for paranormal, murder mysteries but found few at the library or bookstore. So, I wrote one.

A career in writing has been a big leap for me. Accustomed to the number-crunching field of budgeting and the hectic commodity markets, I left my first career and M.B.A. in Finance behind to pursue my dream. I do not regret my foray into literature for one moment. Fellow authors helped me make my way through the competitive field. I write every day and even tried my hand at poetry. If someone tells you it’s too late in life to try something different, they are wrong. It is never too late to follow your heart.

The Dead Game is the first book in The Dead Game series. It brings fantasy and the surreal to the classic murder mystery with dead bodies, suspects, and clues. It offers vampires, vampire derivatives, and a touch of romance to give spice to the mix. Once you read The Dead Game, you will never look at a dead body the same way.

In Book Two, Prey for The Dead, the suspense continues as The Dead use an exclusive club in Disney World and infiltrate the rich and famous. The Dead grow in power, and not even the sun or the swamps of Florida can weaken them. Linda–my main character–and her friends join withthehuman vampires or hybrids to defeat the evil forces threatening to control their town.

I hope you enjoy my books. The third book of The Dead Game Series is waiting for me to write.

To follow along with the rest of the tour, please visit the author’s tour page on the 4WillsPublishing site. If you’d like to book your own blog tour and have your book promoted in similar grand fashion, please click HERE.

Lastly, Susanne is a member of the best book club ever – RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB {#RRBC}! If you’re looking for amazing support as an author, or if you simply love books, JOIN US! We’d love to have you!

Nice to meet Suzanne. I found her history, as a woman trying to achieve in the corporate world in the ’80s very interesting. When I started working in 1997, the international company I worked for didn’t have a maternity policy.

Categories

Goodreads

A bit about me

I am a creative writer with over twenty years of writing experience. I am a speculative fiction writer, and have written in the genres of fantasy-romance and paranormal-romance, however my genre of choice when it comes to writing for myself is dark fantasy where I can allow myself to fully explore the anti-hero characters that pepper my stories. I dabble at poetry and have written professionally for clients locally and internationally.
My debut novel, Guns of Perdition, The Armageddon Showdown Book 1, is due for release later this year.
My major love affair is with the written word; specifically creative writing. I allow myself to indulge and rendezvous with this secret lover whenever time allows… and then we make beautiful poetry together!